Abstract

The complexity of some systems requires the use of several techniques to unravel their behaviour. This is the case of the study of disorder present in mesophases (partially disordered solid mesophases, liquid crystals, etc.) or nanocrystalline samples. Thus, two different families of compounds will be used in this presentation as examples to show these complex studies: lead(II) soaps and doped nanoapatites.

Lead soaps (or alkanoates) are organic salts which present different mesophases (rotator and liquid crystal), between the crystal (totally ordered) and liquid. Their study has become relevant in the last years, because they have been extensively found in the degradation of paintings. This family of salts summarize very well the complete calorimetric and structural analysis of the different phases, ordered and disordered.

On the other hand, hydroxyapatite (calcium hydroxyl phosphate) is the biomineral forming bones and teeth. Here, I will present another study, where this apatite was doped with transition metals (such as Mn, Co and Ni), showing how these metals are incorporated and how they affect the crystal size and shape of the nanocrystals.